On Wednesday, Israel Katz gave Hamas a final warning, demanding the release of the remaining hostages. EPA
Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, has ordered the military to capture more areas in Gaza. He warned that Israel could permanently occupy parts of the territory if Hamas does not release all remaining hostages. Katz vowed to increase ground operations with stronger air, sea, and land strikes until every hostage, both alive and dead, is returned.
According to reports, Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, but only 24 are believed to be alive. The recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas fell apart this week, leading to heavy Israeli airstrikes and ground attacks that have killed hundreds of Palestinians.
Katz accused Hamas of rejecting offers to extend the ceasefire and release the hostages. He stated that "the more Hamas continues to refuse, the more territory it will lose to Israel." Katz also backed a proposal introduced by US envoy Steve Witkoff. The plan calls for the release of all hostages in two stages, with a temporary ceasefire in between.
He also announced that Israel would follow through on US President Donald Trump’s "voluntary transfer plan," which involves relocating Gaza’s population. Trump has proposed that the US should take over and rebuild Gaza, while permanently removing its two million Palestinian residents.
The ceasefire agreement had been brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt. It was supposed to be implemented in three phases but fell apart due to disagreements over the terms. Israel and Hamas failed to agree on how to extend the truce beyond the first phase. When Israel and the US proposed modifying the plan, Hamas rejected it, calling it a "blatant attempt" by Israel to avoid the original deal.
On Tuesday, Israel resumed its airstrikes on Gaza, killing over 430 people in two days, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. In response, Hamas fired three rockets at Tel Aviv on Thursday. Israel blamed Hamas for breaking the ceasefire, with government spokesperson David Mencer accusing the group of rejecting every deal that could have freed the hostages.
On Friday, acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea also blamed Hamas for the renewed violence, saying, "Every death would have been avoided had Hamas accepted the bridge proposal."
In response, Hamas denied stalling the negotiations. In a statement, it said it was still engaging with mediators "with full responsibility and seriousness." Hamas stated that it was reviewing the Witkoff proposal and other ideas to secure a prisoner exchange, end the war, and push for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israel's military continues to order civilians to evacuate targeted areas. However, Palestinians face limited options, with many already displaced multiple times. Israel has also blocked food, fuel, and medical supplies from entering Gaza since March, claiming Hamas was seizing them, though it provided no evidence.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a cross-border attack that killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Since then, more than 49,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The fighting has caused widespread destruction, leaving much of Gaza’s infrastructure in ruins.
